Notice of Rule Proposals for 2024 - IRC Rating

NOTICE FOR RULE PROPOSALS FOR 2024 [AGREED IN PRINCIPLE AT IRC CONGRESS 2022.]

2024 IRC RULE 21 AND DEFINTIONS – RIG AND SAIL

Reason for change: From 2024 rule authority validity date (January or June) it is proposed to require sail measurement stamps on sails that have been measured for an IRC Endorsed Certificate. This is to help competitors identify the correct maximum sails for events and aid equipment inspection at events when checking sails.

This rule is effective notice to sailmakers and competitors ready for the 2024 season. In reality, many sails already have IMS, ORC or other rating system stamps. IRC will publish a specific stamp design but will work with other rating systems to propose a Universal Measurement System (UMS) stamp for the future.

It may be that this stamp will also be useful in the future in identifying “green sails” where there is a sustainable recycle or end of life plan which can then be required by events as necessary.

IRC rule proposal to be published in 2023

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2024 IRC RULE 21 – NUMBER OF HEADSAILS

Reason for change: From 2024 rule authority validity date (January or June) it is proposed to rate the number of headsails onboard.

IRC at present does not rate the number of headsails onboard a yacht. IRC simply rates the largest sail area (HSA) and largest headsail luff length (HLUmax). Multiple headsails can give a distinct advantage in two cases:

Flexibility in sail wardrobe for varying conditions.
The ability to increase headsail area by multiple headsails set flying, particularly for larger boats and in a reaching configuration.

The rating of the number of headsails has advantages in the following areas:

Fairness
Sustainability
Costs

It is proposed to rate the number of headsails onboard for 2024. This is the number of headsails carried onboard and does not relate to the number flown at one time. Proposals include:

The heavy weather jib in accordance with ORS 4.26.2(a) will be included in the headsail number count.
A storm jib in accordance with OSR 4.26.2(b) will not be included in the headsail number count.
The furling headsail allowance and heavy weather jib will be incorporated into the framework as much as possible in an effort to simplify this element of IRC as the current rule 21.8 is confusing for sailors.
In 2024 the number of headsails will be requested upon application.
A base headsail number will be calculated based on the boats parameters which is the reference for when the boat will see no TCC change for number of headsails. A boat with a greater number of headsails than the base will see a TCC increase, and a number of headsails less than the base will see a TCC reduction.
The number of headsails will be printed on the certificate.

IRC rule proposal to be published in 2023